What

Second Test of the two-match series between India and West Indies

When

November 14 to 18, 2013

Where

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

The Teams

India

All the talks about this Test have been revolving around one man. Sachin Tendulkar’s home ground has been buzzing as it gears up for his swansong. Amidst all the hoopla, the Indian cricket team has maintained their focus on the job at hand. The camp has a very settled look to it and Tendulkar himself looks relaxed.

The comprehensive win in Kolkata means there will not be much tinkering with the Playing XI. The morning sea breeze that assists the pace bowlers for the first hour or two of the day will bode well for Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha will be expected to have learned from India’s last Test in Mumbai – in which they lost to England – and look to exploit the bounce on offer.

West Indies

The last time West Indies played at Wankhede Stadium, they hung in for a nail-biting draw. They will have to play out of their skins to better that result this time around. It seems like a herculean task after their meek surrender in Kolkata. With the injured Kemar Roach having gone home, their pace bowling options have diminished but off-spinner Shane Shillingford’s marathon bowling performance in Kolkata will give Darren Sammy a little heart.

Key Players

India

For the next five days the Wankhede Stadium will echo with the chants of Sachin Tendulkar and the fans would be longing to see the final flourish from the bat of the man who has rejoiced them for the last quarter of a century.

West Indies

While this Test is being made all about Tendulkar, there is a man in the opposition camp who will mark a very special milestone in his career. It will be the 150th time that Shivnarine Chanderpaul will walk out in the middle in his West Indies whites. On the eve of the Test, captain, Sammy said his team needs to get inspired. Chanderpaul can be that inspiration for them.

Statistics

Summary of results at Wankhede

Average runs per wicket at Wankhede

since 2000

Pace v Spin at Wankhede

since 2000

Trivia

Last time these two teams played at Wankhede, the match provided only the second instance in Tests annals of a match ending in draw with scores leveled. India were chasing a victory target of 243, but ended at 242 for nine with just one run away from victory. The match was drawn and not tied since India had not lost all their wickets.

Sachin Tendulkar will be playing his 200th Test. He will become first player to do so.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be playing his 150th Test.He will become seventh player to do so after Sachin Tendulkar (200*), Steve Waugh (168), Ricky Ponting (168), Rahul Dravid (164), Jacques Kallis (164) and Allan Border (156).

The Squads

India: MS Dhoni (c, wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Pragyan Ojha, Umesh Yadav.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (c), Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo, Shivnaraine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Tino Best, Sheldon Cottrell, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieran Powell, Shane Shillingford, Chadwick Walton.